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Lockheed L-12 Electra Junior

From PlaneSpottingWorld, for aviation fans everywhere
L-12 Electra Junior
An Electra Junior in Casablanca
Type Utility aircraft
Manufacturer Lockheed
Maiden flight 27 June 1936
Number built 130
Developed from Lockheed L-10 Electra
Variants Lockheed L-14 Super Electra

The Lockheed 12 Electra Junior was an eight-seat, six passenger all-metal transport designed for use by smaller airlines and private owners.

Design and Development

Developed as a scaled-down version of the Lockheed 10 Electra, the prototype made its first flight on June 27, 1936, piloted by Marshall Headle.

British Airways Ltd. ordered two Electra Juniors in 1939. Although ostensibly acquired for civilian purposes, these aircraft were modified for aerial photography and used by Sidney Cotton to track Axis military activity on the eve of World War II.

A modified Electra Junior was used by the NACA as a testbed for "hotwing" deicing technology.

A total of 130 Electra Juniors were built. At the time of Pearl Harbor this aircraft had outsold the competing Beech 18 by 2-1, and Lockheed had over two dozen unfilled orders. In order to concentrate on more vital and advanced wartime aircraft, Lockheed turned the unfilled orders over to Beechcraft, who eventually built many thousands of their Model 18.

Variants

  • L-12-A with non-retractable Tricycle gear
  • L-12-B with two 440 hp (330 kW) Wright R-975 Whirlwind radial engines
  • L-212 light attack/trainer with gun turret atop aft fuselage

Operators

Civilian Operators

Military Operators

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Specifications (12A Electra Junior)

General characteristics

  • Crew: two, pilot and co-pilot
  • Capacity: six passengers
  • Length: 36 ft 4 in (11.07 m)
  • Wingspan: 49 ft 6 in (15.09 m)
  • Height: 9 ft 9 in (2.97 m)
  • Wing area: 352 ft² (32.7 m²)
  • Empty weight: 5,765 lb (2,615 kg)
  • Loaded weight: 8,650 lb (3,924 kg)
  • Powerplant:Pratt & Whitney R-985-48 radial engines, 450 hp (336 kW) each

Performance


Popular culture

An Electra Junior appeared in the film Casablanca. Wartime security precautions prevented shooting at an airport at night, so a cardboard cutout stood in for a real airplane in many shots.

Related content

Related development

Comparable aircraft

Designation sequence

Related lists

See also

Template:USAF transports Template:USN utility aircraft